Pitchfork was jailed for life in 1988 after he raped and strangled Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth in Leicestershire.

The child killer, now 59, has told pals he is confident a Parole Board panel will free him despite being turned down two years ago as a "danger to the public".

A source told the Mirror: "He really thinks he'll be out in a few weeks.

"He's got a real talent for art. He wants to monetise this."

We don't ever want him freed.

Lynda's mum Kathleen Eastwood, 71, of Braunstone, Leicester, said she was dreading the call to say her daughter's killer had been released.

"We don't ever want him freed," she said.

"We haven't been told exactly when the hearing will be and we aren't allowed to be there.

"But we've made a statement that will be read out and considered."

Lynda was strangled and viciously attacked as she set off to visit a friend's house on 21 November 1983.

Three years later, Pitchfork, who worked as a baker, struck again - killing and raping Dawn on 31 July 1986 as she walked home.

Her body was found less than a mile from where Lynda had been attacked.

Pitchfork, who now calls himself David Thorpe, has been out on day-trips from HMP Leyhill in Gloucestershire.

On November 13, 2017 he was allowed out to roam Bristol city centre alone for six hours.

LARGEST MANHUNT IN LEICESTER POLICE HISTORY

After Dawn's killing, Leicestershire Police launched the largest manhunt in its history, asking more than 5,000 local men to volunteer blood or saliva samples in a bid to match samples taken from the crime scenes.

No matches were found, but in 1987 a bakery colleague was overheard boasting that he'd received £200 for giving a sample while posing as Pitchfork.

The conversation was reported to police, and a month later Pitchfork was arrested.

He pleaded guilty to the rape and murder of Lynda and Dawn, and was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 30 years. This was reduced on appeal to 28 years in 2009.